Horse Colic Remedy

Horse colic is a common but nonetheless frightening condition that afflicts horses of all ages and breeds. The term is somewhat generic--it simply indicates a condition that causes pain the horse's abdomen or belly--but the steps you take to identify and act at the beginning of a colic episode are the same. Quick diagnosis and action can cure a mild colic or make a lifesaving difference in a dangerous colic. The time to get ready for an emergency is long before it happens. Be prepared for colic by knowing what to expect.

  1. Symptoms of Colic

    • The symptoms of colic include signs of nervousness and agitation. Your horse may paw the ground, kick or nip at his abdomen or twist to look at his belly. He may try to roll or stretch to relieve the pain. Some horses will shift their weight from leg to leg. Check your horse's manure. Lack of manure or a drastic change in its texture may indicate an impending colic. You may hear significant rumbling or a total absence of sound in the your horse's gut.

    Remove Food

    • As soon as you suspect colic, remove all food and stall your horse. Leave his water until you speak to your veterinarian. Some horse owner's feed a warmed bran mash during a colic, but do not make this decision without your vet's approval. If you aren't able to stall your horse, move him to a dry area with limited grazing.

    Report Vital Signs

    • Be prepared to take your horse's vital signs. These are techniques you should know and practice before an emergency; your veterinarian can show you how. Report your horse's vital signs--temperature, pulse, gut sounds, respiration and capillary refill time--to your veterinarian. A horse's temperature should be between 99 and 101 degrees F. His pulse should be between 30 and 40 beats per minutes (BPM). A BPM higher than 50 may indicate distress. Listen for gut sounds. Over- and under-active sounds are both colic signs. Respiration should be somewhere near 8 to 15 breaths per minute. Capillary refill time should be less than 2 seconds. Anything longer than that can indicate shock.

    Walk

    • If your horse is willing, gently walk her. Do not ride her under any circumstance. If she isn't willing to walk, let her rest. In the past, walking was considered a necessary part of colic treatment, but now it is thought that it can lead to dehydration or exhaustion. Follow your horse's lead. Gentle walking can serve to distract her from her pain, and in cases of mild colic, it can stimulate her gut enough to get things moving.

    Pain Medication

    • If your veterinarian recommends it, administer pain medication. Do not administer sedatives, mineral oil or any other medication without your veterinarian's approval. Using the wrong medication can make the situation worse. Dissolve the pain medication--usually phenylbutazone or "bute"--in warm water and administer it in a large deworming syringe. Mixing the bute into bran mash is common, but if your horse is suffering from a blockage type colic, this could be dangerous.

    Reduce Stress

    • Try to keep your horse calm. Offer small amounts of water and try to keep her out of direct, searing heat. If she is trying to roll, encourage her to walk in an effort to distract her. Be careful if she's attempting to roll; do not physically attempt to prevent it because you could be injured. Letting your horse see her stable mates and playing music may reduce anxiety.

    Prevention

    • To minimize the risk of colic, feed your horse a good quality diet and follow a regular feeding routine. Keep your grain supply under lock and key--many horses have experienced a fatal colic after consuming unlimited amounts of grain. If your horse is extremely hot, limit her water consumption until she cools down. In normal conditions, provide unlimited water. During cold weather, be sure her water is above 40 degrees. Cold weather dehydration can cause colic.